Free Zumba classes offered by ECRC

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This article was published 04/09/2013 (4391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC) is working hard to get the neighbourhood moving.

The ECRC is offering a free eight-week drop-in Zumba class for women every Thursday night beginning Sept. 12.

The classes run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday nights at the Elmwood East Kildonan Senior Centre (180 Poplar Ave.)

The centre ran a four-week Zumba program in the spring, and after an overwhelming response, they’ve received funding to offer it again.

Organizer Diana Desrochers noted the program funding comes from Healthy Together Now.

“We wanted to try to take advantage of that grant to encourage the community to get more active,” she said.

Desrochers and co-organizer Lisa Bittner was impressed with the level of attendance, and also the demographics represented during the first round of classes.

“(Zumba is) something a lot of people can do, various ages, because you can do less of the move,” Desrochers said. “You can modify the exercise to your fitness level.”

“There was none of that uncomfortableness of ‘Oh, it’s a whole bunch of teenagers”, or ‘Oh, it’s a whole bunch of oldies’. There was none of that. It was very accepting to all ages and stages of physical activity,” Bittner added.

Desrochers said she and Bittner are glad to be able to offer the program again after there was a clear demand for it established.

“They all wanted us to do it again. They were very happy it was a free program, because a lot of people in this area are on a tight budget, a fixed income,” Desrochers said.

Since it’s a drop-in program, there’s no commitment on the part of attendees, so they are free to try it to see if they enjoy it.

The program is run by accredited instructor Jacquie Meilleur, a neighbourhood resident.

The centre said approximately 30 people can be accommodated at a time, but if more enthusiasts show up, they’ll find ways to get everybody involved. Bittner noted, for example, there could be two groups of 30 minutes each.

Those looking for more information can contact the ECRC at 204-982-1720.

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